Insulator for trolley-wire supports.



No. 632,733. Patented Sept. I2, I899.

' J. W. MEAKER.

INSULATOR FOR TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORTS..

(Application filed Sept. 11, 1896.)

(No Model.)

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.IOIIN \V. MEAKER, OF \VAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS INSULATOR FOR TROLLEY-WIRE SUPPORTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 632,733, dated September 12, 1899.

Application filed September 11. 1896 Serial No. 605,479. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. MEAKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in \Vaukegan, Lake county, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insulators for Trolley-\V ire Supports, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view, part being broken away. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is an end view.

My invention relates to insulators for trolley-wire supports, and has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements which will increase the eiliciency of the insulator, such improvements consisting in means for shedding the water at a point remote from the bolt; an improved shell for supporting the bolt, means for locking the cap on the shell, improvements in the bolt itself and in the non-conducting covering therefor, means for preventing the bolt from tuining in its seat, and certain other details which will be hereinafter pointed out.

That which I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a shell which has a central conical bearing 2 to receive a conical bolt 3. The shell 1 is provided with wings 5 6, having overturned ears 7 8, respectively, which receive the usual cross-wires, such wires passing around the shell 1. in the usual manner.

In order to provide for shedding water at a point remote from the bolt, the wings 5 6 slant downward from the shell toward their ends, and flanges v9 10 are formed along the edges of the wings from end to end, as shown in Fig. 1. By this construction water falling upon the insulator flows naturally around the shell and off at the ends of the wings 5 6 in the gutters formed by the flanges 9 10.

11 indicates a cap, which in its best form is stampedout of a piece of sheet metal and is provided with an upward projection 12 of irregular shape, so that a clamp may be applied thereto for turning the cap and screwing it upon the shell, suitable screw-threads being provided. The cap 11 at its lower edge is provided with a series of lugs 13, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, said lugs being bent outward and downward, as shown in Fig. 2.

let indicates one or more fixed projections extending outward from the shell 1, as shown in Fig. 2, and being of such size that the downwardly-projecting ends of the lugs 18 will normally clear them, as shown in Fig. 2. By bending in the ends of the lugs 13 they may be caused to engage the projections 1 1, as indicated in Fig. 2, thereby preventing the cap from being unscrewed. In my former patent for insulator, dated October 15, 1895, No. 547,931, I have described and claimed a construction somewhat similar for preventing the unscrewing of the cap. In that case, however, the lugs project radially and are not bent down.

reason that with my present improvement the cap need not be screwed down tightly in order that the lugs may be used to lock it, as they may be so used at any point after the cap has been screwed down far enough to permit the lower ends of the lugs when bent .in to engage the fixed projections, whereas in my former construction it was necessary to screw the cap down almost to its lowermost point before the lugs became operative.

The bolt 3 in its best form is made of a piece of sheet metal drawn to suitable shape by dies. The upper closed end of the bolt is conical, thelower portion thereof being cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 2.

15 indicates a thimble, of suitable insulating material, having a flange 16 at its lower end, said thimble being adapted to be fitted into the lower end of the bolt 3, the flange 16 bearing against the lower end of said bolt.

17 indicates a screw bolt or head, which is The present construction is. superior to that of my former patent, for the adapted to fit into the thimble 15, the screwthe screw-bolt 17 is insulated from the bolt 3.

The bolt 3 is provided with a double insulator consisting of an inner coating 19 of non-conducting enamel, such as that commonly used on enameled ironware, and an outer coating 20 of gutta-percha, rubber, or other suitable material. The inner coating extends down to near the lower end of the bolt, stopping a short distance above the ends of the rivet 18, while the outer coating covers the upper half, more or less, of the bolt, but does not extend down as far as the inner coating, as illustrated in Fig. 2. By this construetion should there be a leak in one of the coatings the other will afford ample protection. Furthermore, the rubber outer covering serves to protect the inner enamel from any shock or jar which might fracture it, and it provides a smoother and more regular surface, so thatthe bolt may be better fitted to its seat. The upper end of the bolt is arranged to fit snugly into the seat 2, the bolt being held firmly in position by the screw-cap 11, which exerts a downward pressure upon it. By this construction the bolt is not only tightly inclosed and thereby protected "from the elements, but by the use of the double insulating covering the danger of leakage is reduced to the minimum.

21 indicates a fixed lug extending from the shell 1 toward the flange 9, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the object of which lug is to prevent the cross-wire from becoming displaced.

In order to prevent the bolt from turning in its seat, the outer covering 20 is provided with a series of lugs extending radially at suitable intervals, and the upper face of the shell 1 is provided with vertically-extending lugs 23, adapted to be engaged by the lugs 22 should the bolt be turned in its seat. By placing the lugs 22 23 sufficiently close together the bolt may be prevented absolutely from turning, although in practice I have found that a small number of such lugs may be used, as they suffice to prevent any mate rial movement of the bolt.

I have described my improvements in detail; but it is to be understood that, except as herein specifically claimed, I do not limit my invention to specific details,as many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

That which I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An insulator-bolt having an inner coating of enamel or equivalent material and an outer coating of rubber or other elastic material.

2. An insulator-bolt consisting of a hollow sheet-metal shell and an attaching device carried thereby, substantially as described.

An insulator-bolt consisting of a hollow shell open at the bottom, and an attaching device adapted to fit into and to be secured to said shell, substantially as described.

l. An insulator-bolt consisting of a hollow shell open at the bottom, a thimble fitted into said shell, and an attaching device secured in said thimble, substantially as described.

5. An insulator-bolt consisting of a hollow shell open at the bottom, a thimble fitted into said shell, said thimble having a flange 16, and an attaching device secured in said thi mble, substantially as described.

(5. An insulator-bolt consisting of a sheet metal shell, a non-conducting thimble fitted thereinto, a screw-bolt fitted into said thimble, and means for securing said part-s together, substantially as described.

7. An insulator-bolt consisting of a sheetmetal shell, a non-conducting thimble fitted thereinto, a screw-bolt fitted into said thimble, a rivet securing said parts together, and means for insulating said screw-boltfrom said shell, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a shell having laterally-extended wings, of means for conducting water accumulating on said shell away therefrom and discharging it at or near the outer ends of said wings, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a shell, and laterally-extended wings having inclined upper surfaces, of a flange, as 9, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

JOHN W. MEAKER.

Witnesses:

J OHN L. Jxcxsox, ALBERT II. ADAMS. 

